Precedence and Sequence of Business / Private Members' Business, Public Bills

March 20, 1979

Journals pp. 549-53

Debates pp. 4345-7

On March 16, 1979 as the House was proceeding to private Members' business, Mr. Herbert (Vaudreuil) rose on a point of order. He claimed that Bill C-232, an Act to amend the Holidays Act, should be the first item of business considered because it was at the third reading stage and, according to the Standing Orders, that category had precedence over the others standing on the Order Paper.

Issue

Does a private Member's bill, having been debated at a specific stage, retain its precedence on the Order Paper if it is still at that stage?

Decision

While priority on the Order Paper is assigned to a bill by the Standing Order according to the stage it has reached, that priority is not retained beyond the first time the item is considered at that stage. Once the bill has been debated at that stage, it drops to the foot of the list of public bills on the Order Paper.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The Chair has determined that "although there is a list of priorities for Private Members' Business on the Order Paper, this priority should not and does not exist for a time longer than necessary to bring that order again before the House for debate".

According to the Chair's understanding of Standing Order 20(2) when debate on a private Member's bill "has been adjourned or interrupted, the said bill ... shall be placed on the Order Paper for the next sitting at the foot of the list under the respective heading for such bills" viz. Public Bills.

Authorities cited

Standing Orders 15(4), 18(1), 20(1), 20(2) and 110(2).

References

Debates, March 16, 1979, pp. 4260-1 ; March 20, 1979, pp. 4342-5.